December Reading: A Listening Extravaganza

I haven't posted in a while, but I have a good reason...or two.  Not only was the last part of November soccer tournament season for my son but I have also been spending every passing free moment I had with earbuds in my ears listening to a book series I stumbled upon by complete accident.  In the last month I have listened to all seven of the main books (there are two bonus books) in the Emperor's Edge series.  Needless to say, Audible got some good business and my husband was less than thrilled with me going over my monthly book budget. 

It's hard to explain the setting of this series.  It does have a steampunk aspect to it but I personally think it is more fantasy.  The plot in a few sentences? Hmmm... Enforcer goes rogue and teams up with assassin in order to save a prince who is being plotted against; gathers up unusual yet lovable team of misfits to help and goes up again incredible evil to save the world they live in. Yup, that about sums up the whole series.  Is there action and adventure? Almost constantly.  There is never a dull moment where the pace slows down too much.  Romance?  Yup, but nothing happens for several books so it is a slow build but worth the wait.  Humor? There were many moments when I laughed out loud at the antics of the team.  

If I could give a series more than five stars, I would. I highly recommend it but also warn you that you may get sucked in rather quickly and not come up for air until the seventh book is finished. Click the links below to read the synopsis and the reviews on Amazon.

The Emperor's Edge on Amazon
The Emperor's Edge on Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Cogling by Jordan Mierek

COGLING

A Steampunk Fairy Tale for Young Adults

who love a little Romance in their Adventures

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors. 

Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family. 

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COGLING has already gained advanced praise from NY Times Bestselling author Maria V. Snyder!

“This is a fun YA Steampunk novel. It's very different than many other Steampunk stories I've read. Basic plot is Edna's brother is kidnapped by hags and replaced with a "cogling" and she's on a mission to find and rescue her brother. The world is a Victorian-era with a strict class system for the humans and for those with magic. The woman with magic are called hags and the men with magic are orges and they're not nice and are planning to change the system. I really enjoyed learning about the world and the characters are well drawn and engaging.”

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Check out COGLING on GoodReads and Curiosity Quills.  

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Meet the author – Jordan Elizabeth Mierek lives in a dream world.  Sometimes she comes out to do her day job, but most of the time she is writing about her favorite people – her characters!  COGLING is her fourth book.  Her previous steampunk series, the Treasure Chronicles, include TREASURE DARKLY and BORN OF TREASURE.  Her debut novel, ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, is a young adult fantasy-horror.  You can find her short stories in numerous anthologies.  Check out her website, JordanElizabethMierek.com, for contests and bonus stories!

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